Rudolph Spur - Ruckle Creek Loop - 2013/05/26

According to some information in a 2008 Mazamas Bulletin the Rudolph Spur trail was designed by sheep herders in the early 1900's who were anxious for a quick way to get up to & down from the Benson Plateau were there would summer graze their sheep. The route was almost lost but according Don & Roberta Lowe in their 1986 book it was kept open to by a John Carlson of Cascade Locks. There are now two variations to the upper part above 2700', a ridge route or a trail (probably built by Mazamas) that skirts the East side of the ridge on up to the plateau. The Sunday before Memorial Day we set out to explore the trail making a loop out of it with the Ruckel Creek Trail for a 12 mile hike with about 4300' of EG beginning & ending in Cascade Locks. Despite the dubious forecast we managed to stay "mostly" dry!